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Washington, D.C. - In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, Americans’ perceptions of the direction of the country remains steady. About a third of Americans (35%, statistically unchanged from last week’s 34%) think the country is heading in the right direction. Republicans continue to be more optimistic about the future of the country, with 65% stating that America is on the right path. Democrats (14%) and Independents (28%) are less likely than Republicans to believe the country is moving in the right direction.

President Trump's overall approval rating is at 42% among all Americans, unchanged from last week. Republicans’ (82%) strong support for Trump and the job he is doing as president continues this week. Democrats are the most critical of President Trump’s performance, with just 11% approving of the president. Around two in five Independents (39%) approve of how he is handling the position.

President Trump receives the most support for the way he is handling his signature issues of employment and jobs (51%), and the U.S. economy (49%). President Trump receives moderate support for immigration (45%). Americans are most critical of the way President Trump is handling the environment (38%) and Russia (38%).

Forty-five percent of Americans approve of the way their congressperson is handling their job as representative. Republicans (49%) and Democrats (50%) are more likely to approve of their representative than Independents (39%). Americans (28%) are significantly less likely to approve of Congress as a whole than their individual representatives. Fewer than one-third of Democrats (31%) and Republicans (30%) approve of the legislative body as a whole. Independents (22%) are least likely to approve of Congress.

Americans perceive healthcare (19%) and immigration (16%) as the most important problems facing the country today. Perceptions of the major issues are shaped by political identity: Republicans feel that immigration (31%) is the biggest issue today, while Democrats think it is healthcare (27%). Independents are most concerned with healthcare (18%), followed by the economy generally (12%) and immigration (12%).

About this Study

These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted for Thomson Reuters between March 26 – April 1, 2019. For the survey, a sample of 3,962 Americans, including 1,588 Democrats, 1,496 Republicans, and 546 Independents ages 18+ were interviewed online. The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points for all adults, 2.8 percentage points for Democrats, 2.9 percentage points for Republicans, and 4.8 percentage points for Independents. For more information about credibility intervals, please see the appendix.

The data were weighted to the U.S. current population data by gender, age, education, and ethnicity. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Figures marked by an asterisk (*) indicate a percentage value of greater than zero but less than one half of one per cent. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. To see more information on this and other Reuters/Ipsos polls, please visit http://polling.reuters.com/.

About Ipsos Public Affairs

Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, survey-based research practice made up of seasoned professionals. We conduct strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of American and international organizations, based not only on public opinion research, but elite stakeholder, corporate, and media opinion research.

Ipsos has media partnerships with the most prestigious news organizations around the world. In Canada, the U.S., UK, and internationally, Ipsos Public Affairs is the media polling supplier to Reuters News, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. Ipsos Public Affairs is a member of the Ipsos Group, a leading global survey-based market research company. We provide boutique-style customer service and work closely with our clients, while also undertaking global research.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry.

With offices in 89 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,749.5 million in 2018.